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All aboard: Transit strike averted

Philadelphia transit strike averted

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By Mark Newman
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MLB.com |

PHILADELPHIA -- It appears the Phillies no longer have to worry about the transportation problems their fans would have encountered had Philadelphia's largest transit union opted to follow through with its threats to strike this weekend.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter revealed late Saturday afternoon that labor negotiations progressed to the point that Transport Workers Union Local 234 opted not to recognize the 6 p.m. ET deadline that had been set earlier in the day.

According to this report, Nutter expects negotiations to continue until an agreement is reached.

This is good news for Phillies fans who are planning to travel to Citizens Bank Park for any of the World Series Games that are scheduled over the course of the next three days.

A strike would have eliminated the possibility for fans to use the subway system to travel to the World Series games or any of the other events that are scheduled to take place around the baseball stadium this weekend.

While the Phillies were hosting Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday night, Pearl Jam was scheduled to perform across the street at the Spectrum. Before the World Series resumes on Sunday night, the Eagles are scheduled to host the Giants in a key NFL matchup during the afternoon.

The Flyers are scheduled to host the Tampa Bay Lightning in an NHL affair at Wachovia Center early Monday evening, before the Yankees and Phillies are slated to play Game 5.

The Phillies are still urging fans to carpool if they plan to attend World Series games. In addition, they have asked that fans who do not have tickets to this weekend's Sports Complex events to stay away from the area.

Mark Newman is enterprise editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.